But let all who take refuge in You be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread Your protection over them,

~ Psalm 5:11-12

Do you have strong memories tied to music?  Are there certain songs that instantly deliver a flood of memories?  There is something unique about the relationship God created between us and music.  While writing this article, I researched the science behind memory and music.  The studies available online were interesting: when we hear music, our brain links the lyrics of the song to our memory of events going on at the time.  So, when we hear the song again, even decades later, our mind can recollect emotions felt at the time.  Songs can evoke deep emotional connections between the singer and recipient.  On a spiritual level, we know that singing to the Lord connects us to Him when we use our voice to praise, thank, and love Him.  Singing is intimate and soul baring, especially when we are singing of our love for Him.  

There are several songs I am unable to finish because my tears will not allow it.  For instance, in 2007, I still remember the song leader calling out a number and turning the pages to “Blessed be the Name of the Lord.”  Because we had just suffered a second miscarriage, my singing voice was stifled by tears that day.  But my heart sang the lyrics below:

One of my earliest memories tied to joyful singing includes my Aunt Beth, who I have looked up to for as long as I can remember.  Helping others seems to be as natural to her as breathing, and almost always with a beautiful smile on her face.  I recall staying with her for a short summer vacation as a young girl, and one afternoon I happened to catch a glimpse of her everyday joy in the Lord.  As the sun was shining on her through her kitchen window, she was sweeping, and while I thought only Disney princesses sang while doing household chores, Aunt Beth was singing while she was sweeping. My young soul was imprinted like clay that day, seeing my aunt singing joyfully to the Lord with a broom in her hand.    

Last year, Aunt Beth drove several hours to have a short visit with us.  Jesse Flowers happened to be preaching that evening within driving distance, so Mom, Aunt Beth, and my girls piled into our van, worshipped together, and headed back when the meeting was over.  I remember stopping at a traffic light and using my phone to record us as we started to sing “Heaven is a Wonderful Place.”  The recording below is unedited (you can hear my blinker at the beginning), with all kinds of background noise due to me driving and my youngest asking questions… but this recording is precious to me.  You see, this is the essence of my Aunt Beth.  When we are together, singing spiritual songs at anytime is perfectly normal, because we have His song in our hearts.

Aunt Beth, if you’re reading this, I cannot express in words how grateful I am to you. You will forever hold a key to my heart because of your godly example, agape love, and the song in your heart that you then gave to me, and I have now given to my own daughters.  I hope I am able to be that kind of a reflection of the joy in the Lord for others as you continue to be for so many.  To all the “Aunt Beth’s” out there, thank you.  We need you!  You remind us of what is real (heaven), and what is temporal.  As in the Psalm 5:11-12, I believe that we will sing with joy, eternally, because we take refuge in the Lord.  Heaven is a wonderful place, and I will sing this song until we sing together in heaven someday.